Asters come in large and small sizes. They are the stars of the autumn garden and bees love them.

Asters come in large and small sizes. They are the stars of the autumn garden and bees love them.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Asters bring interest, texture to autumn gardens

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Leaf-peeping season is upon us, providing spectacular color across the landscape. But in the ornamental garden, once Old Man Frost strikes his silver sword, much visual impact is lost.

The asters, however, are in full cry. Purple, pink, red, lavender or white, they provide interest and texture for the gardener, as well as nourishment for lollygagging October bees.

Herbaceous perennials hardy from zones 5 to 8, asters get their name from the Latin word for "star," and these plants are indeed the star of the autumn garden. Ranging in height from 1 to 6 feet, they are by and large sun-loving, drought-tolerant and easy to grow. (Do protect them from deer, however.)

As with many perennials, choosing early- and late-blooming cultivars extends the show. Plant in compost-amended soil and give them plenty of room. Adequate air circulation is important to prevent powdery mildew. Division every few years is beneficial. For shorter stems which bloom later, prune the plants by half prior to July 1. When in bloom, bring in armloads as cut flowers. And if this article entices you to purchase and plant asters now, mulch well to prevent frost heaving.

Here's a few of my favorites:

Developed at the Mount Cuba Center in Delaware, New England aster Purple Dome is considered a dwarf, as it only attains some 24 inches in height, perfect for the smaller garden. It'll eventually form a showy woody clump, but to do so it needs medium moisture, well-drained soil and full sun. It's tolerant of wet sites, but avoid areas which remain damp in winter. If happy, Purple Dome will provide a profuse cloud of long-lasting dark purple flowers, which are attractive to butterflies. This low-maintenance plant needs no staking, and has no serious insect or disease issues. Use as edging, for the butterfly garden, or in the front of the border. I tuck mine in among daylilies and hydrangea. Though deer find it tasty, it's reputed to be rabbit resistant.

I pulled this wild aster out as a weed for years, but finally this spring I marked the plant that I came to recognize as white wood aster. When it burst into September bloom, I knew I'd been missing out on a winner. This native grows along the Eastern seaboard, where it produces an autumn bevy of small white daisies. Unlike most asters, it loves shady sites in dry open woods. The purple-black, lax stems are often zig-zagged, supporting heart-shaped, coarsely toothed clusters of inch-wide white-rayed flowers. As they age, the lacy blooms tint purple. Plants are 1 to 3 feet high, and if undisturbed, will eventually form colonies. Let this casual beauty ramble and tumble through the garden bed or shrub border, where it will weave the garden together and host a bounty of bees.

It took me forever to learn how to spell Alma Potschke. I'd loved the deep raspberry color of this New England aster from afar, but even after I planted it, I had to check the spelling each time I wrote about it in an article, blog, book or journal. I think I've finally got it! Alma should be positioned 20 inches away from her sisters in sunny to part-sun conditions. She'll grow to 3 feet tall. She pairs nicely with sedums and grasses; consider Panicum Shenandoah for a contrast of form, which picks up the reddish tones of the grass. Or use her naturalized in meadow drifts or in wildflower or butterfly gardens. This robust, long-blooming lady is seaside and salt resistant.

Add these asters to your garden and be prepared for your plot of Mother Nature to go out in a blaze of glory!